People in the Lab

Current Graduate Students

Jesse Fischer

Ph.D. Candidate (Fisheries Biology)
Dissertation title: Benchmarks of biological integrity for lake restoration success: fish assemblage composition and population dynamics in Iowa lakes and impoundments

Undergraduate education: University of Nebraska (B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, 2004)

Graduate education: Kansas State University (M.S. Biology, 2007)
Thesis title: Structural organization of Great Plains stream fish assemblages: implications for sampling and conservation

Research interests: I have a diverse background of experience from working with small stream to large lake systems, including both threatened and game fishes. My research interests include understanding influences structuring native fish assemblages, using fish assemblage and population characteristics to measure ecosystem quality, and evaluating the effects of sampling protocols used to collect fishes on data interpretation.

Career goals: I would like to continue research and teaching in applied fisheries science and management of fisheries at a university after graduation.

Curriculum Vitae

Personal interests: I like to do many outdoor activities in or around water. I also enjoy training my Deutsch drahthaar, Ira.

Email: fischer@iastate.edu

Tim Parks

M.S. Candidate (Fisheries Biology)
Thesis title: Fish species of greatest conservation need in Iowa's nonwadeable rivers: Distribution, relative abundance, and influences from potential movement barriers

Undergraduate education: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (B.S. Fisheries and Water Resources, 2008)

Co-advisor: Clay Pierce

Research interests: My research is focused on understanding the distributions of fishes in nonwadeable river systems and how fish assemblage structure is influenced by instream habitat and barriers to movement. This research will provide insight on the spatial organization fish assemblages along large river gradients. I am also interested in the age and growth of fishes in large rivers. I aspire to become a fisheries biologist working on the bio-assessment of rivers and streams. Bio-assessment work is highly rewarding since it relates ecosystem health to land use practices, and because it emphasizes the need for conservation efforts targeted on native fish assemblages.

Email: tparks@iastate.edu

Josh McCormick

M.S. Candidate (Fishery Resources)
Thesis title: Assessment of angler survey methods for managing Idaho's anadromous fisheries: angler survey design and the role of social desirability bias

Undergraduate education: The Pennsylvania State University (B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Science, 2003)

Research interests: My research interests are broad, but are currently focused on answering questions related to anadromous fisheries management and applying appropriate sampling designs to provide relevant information for making informed management decisions.

Email: mcco7627@vandals.uidaho.edu

John Walrath

M.S. Candidate (Fishery Resources)
Thesis title: Population structure, dynamics, and food habits of northern pike and smallmouth bass in Lake Coeur d’Alene: potential effects on adfluvial cutthroat trout and management alternatives

Undergraduate education: University of Nebraska (B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, 2010)

Research interests: My primary area of interest is in the management of lotic and lentic systems to maximize productivity and angler satisfaction. Currently, my focus is on determining management alternatives for northern pike and smallmouth bass populations within the context of adfluvial westslope cutthroat trout conservation efforts and sport fish angling opportunities.

Email: walr7955@vandals.uidaho.edu

Christopher Smith

M.S. Candidate (Fishery Resources)
Thesis title: Techniques and designs for evaluating juvenile burbot in the Kootenai River system

Undergraduate education: Iowa State University (B.S. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2011)

Research interests: I am interested in answering research questions associated with the management sport fishes and the conservation of imperiled fishes in a variety of systems. More specifically, I am interested in addressing specific management questions that will improve current management practices. As part of my research at the University of Idaho, I am determining the most effective sampling techniques for juvenile burbot in large non-wadeable river systems. In addition to my primary research objective, I am also interested in investigating the role habitat variables have on gear efficacy and detectability of juvenile burbot in the system.

Email: smit8051@vandals.uidaho.edu

Steven Whitlock

M.S. Candidate (Fishery Resources)
Thesis title: Spawning ecology and effects of water level management on kokanee recruitment in Lake Pend Oreille

Undergraduate education: Northland College (B.S. Biology, 2010)

Research interests: My goal as a researcher is to use a wide variety of techniques to broaden knowledge of freshwater fish ecology, while addressing relevant management questions. I am particularly interested in disentangling the complexities of large natural lakes because of their long histories, host of dynamic processes, and assortment of locally-adapted and non-indigenous species. My current research is focused on the evaluating the influence of habitat variables, at multiple scales, on the incubation success of shoreline spawning kokanee in Lake Pend Oreille, and on describing the population dynamics and genetic structure of spatially- and temporally-segregated breeding groups of kokanee in the lake. My additional research activities include evaluating fish population assessment metrics using bootstrapping and sensitivity analysis, measuring the effects groundwater seepage on shoreline egg survival, and using population models to evaluate the effect of biotic and abiotic factors on kokanee recruitment and mortality in Lake Pend Oreille.

Email: whit4614@vandals.uidaho.edu

Carson Watkins

M.S. Candidate (Fishery Resources)
Thesis title: Fish assemblage and population responses to habitat restoration of side channels in the Kootenai River

Undergraduate education: University of Wyoming (B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management, 2011)

Research interests: My main research interests are within the realm of applied fish ecology. I am particularly interested in the conservation of native non-game fishes and management of recreational sport fisheries. My current research is focused on evaluating the response of fishes to large-scale habitat restoration in the Kootenai River. The goals of my research are to determine community- and population-level structure, function, and variation among side channels of the Kootenai River and to evaluate specific habitat associations. An additional objective of my project is to develop and evaluate sampling designs for monitoring the effects of restoration activities on fishes in side channels.

Email: watk0291@vandals.uidaho.edu


Former Graduate Students

Bryan Bakevich

Undergraduate education: University of Montana (B.S. Wildlife Biology-Aquatic option, 2009)

Graduate education: Iowa State University (M.S. Fisheries Biology, 2012)
Thesis title: Occurrence and abundance of Topeka shiners and phenology of fish assemblages in off-channel habitats of streams in central Iowa

Research interests: I'm interested in the ecology of lotic systems and how it can be applied to meet fisheries objectives. My current research is focused on Topeka shiners, a small endangered fish species of the Midwest. Investigating biotic and abiotic factors associated with the presence of this species will be valuable to current recovery and restoration efforts. I'm also interested in how small oxbows in low order floodplain streams are used by fish throughout the year. I would like to work as a fisheries biologist for a state agency upon graduation. I also would like to continue working with threatened or non-game fish species.

Email: bakevich@iastate.edu

Maria Dzul

Undergraduate education: University of Michigan (B.S. Biology, 2007)

Graduate education: Iowa State University (M.S. Wildlife Biology, 2012)
Thesis title: Population ecology and monitoring of the endangered Devils Hole pupfish

Research interests: I'm working with both Dr. Quist and Dr. Dinsmore at ISU to develop a population model for the endangered Devils Hole pupfish. I'm interested in using population models to help illuminate details about populations with the belief that greater understanding will lead to more successful conservation and restoration efforts.

Email: dzul@iastate.edu

Tony Sindt

Undergraduate education: Minnesota State University-Mankato (B.S. Ecology 2008)

Graduate education: Iowa State University (M.S. Fisheries Biology, 2011)
Thesis title: Iowa stream fish species of greatest conservation need: using Iowa GAP products to refine prioritization and guide assessment

Current position: Fisheries Research Biologist, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Email: Anthony.Sindt@dnr.state.oh.us

Travis Neebling

Undergraduate education: Northland College (B.S. Natural Resources - Wildlife and Fish Ecology, dual-major Biology 2006)

Graduate education: Iowa State University (M.S. Fisheries Biology, 2009)
Thesis title: Fish assemblages in Iowa's non-wadeable rivers: relationships with habitat and sampling methods

Current position: Fisheries Biologist, Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Email: Travis.Neebling@wyo.gov

Jeff Koch

Undergraduate education: University of Nebraska (B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife, 2003)

Graduate education: Iowa State University (M.S. Fisheries Biology, 2008)
Thesis title: Effects of commercial harvest on shovelnose sturgeon populations in the upper Mississippi River

Current position: Fisheries Biologist, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Email: jeff.koch@wp.state.ks.us

Zac Jackson

Undergraduate education: North Dakota State University (B.S. Natural Resources Management, B.S. Zoology, 2003)

Graduate education: Iowa State University (M.S. Fisheries Biology, 2007)
Thesis title: Assessment of the interrelationships between fish population dynamics and limnological characteristics of Iowa lakes

Current position: Fisheries Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Service

Email: Zachary_Jackson@fws.gov